Car-washing machine



Nov. 25, 1930. H. CORDELL ET AL 1,783,074

CAR WASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 21, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 25, 1930.

H. CORDELL ET AL CAR WASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 21, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 25, 1930. H. CORDELL ET AL 1,?83,074

CAR WASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 21, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 25, 1930. H. CORDELL ET AL CAR WASHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 21, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Hm- W 7 Patented Nov. 25, 1930 UNITED STATES PAT ENT OFFICE HENRY CORDELL, F WILMETTE, AND JOHN ROBERT BLACKHAL L, OF HIGHLAND PARK,

ILLINOIS; SAID CORDELI) ASSIGNOR- TO SAID BLACKHALL l CAR-WASHING MACHINE Application filed November 21, 1929. Serial No. 408,834.

This invention relates to washing machines,

.and with regard to certain more specific features,to car-washing machines.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provision of a combination of rotating brushes and high-pressure spray means; the provision of a car-washing machine of the class described in which a dirtremoving solution is pumped and projected at high pressure to form a spray, said solution being present on that part of the surface to be cleaned at which brushes are operating the solution thereafter being removed by a rinsing process; the provision of a Washer including the features above set out which is automatically adjustable to engage equip ment to be cleaned, being also provided with clearing adjustments for permitting free movement of the equipment through the washer when said washer 1s not in use; and

the provision of a device of the class described which is simple, rugged and novel in mechanical and electrical design. -Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter. I

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, fea-' .tures of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structure hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be, indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated one of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a sideelevat ion, showing ,the invention in use on a railway car; I

Fig. 2 is a plan-view of the washer, the dotted lines showing the positions which a railway car would assume if it were in position for being washed;

Fig. 3 isan enlarged plan view of certain operating linkages;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged side elevation, ing details of a brush elevator;

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on line 6-6 showof Fig., 4;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevation showand able primary framework 15.

Fig. 7 is a cross section taken on line 8-8 V car adapted to be washed. It is to be understood that the type of car is not important, and that the features of this invention may be adaptedito other types of vehicles.

The track 3 along which the vehicle 1 may move crosses a suitable rack 5, said rack including a drain 7 for carrying off waste water and the like. Mounted on each side of the rack 5 is a washing unit 9. These units 9 are identical in structure and the details of a description of one of them will suffice for both, the numerals greed in describing either being applied to both in the drawings. 1

Each washing unit 9 comprises a stationary frame 11. Supported vertically and rotatably within said stationary frame isasupporting shaft 13 which forms part of a mov- This primary framework 15-comprises said shaft 13 and lower and upper brackets 17 and 19, respectively, said brackets reaching outwardly to, and supporting a main brush shaft 21, the latter being also vertically located. At the upper end of the brush shaft 21 are located a bearing 23,a short brush 25 for washing an upper panel of the car 1 and a sprocket 27 for a chain 29, the use ofwhich will be set out.

is located a brush 31 for washing the lower panel of the car 1, and below this brush 31, near the supporting bearing of the .brush shaft is carried a. bevel gear 33. A beveled At the lower end of themain brush shaft 21 pinion 37 meshes with the bevel gear 33. The

are all adapted to swing as a unit around the center line of said shaft 13. The brushes 25 and 31 are resiliently pressed against the vside of the car 1 by the reaction of the springs 47 fastened to suitable brackets 49 on the 1 frame 11 and also to a lever 51 integral with said secondary swinging framework 15. A series of holes placed in the brackets 49 and 51 permit adjustments of the tension of the springs 47. Suitable electrical connections to the motor 43 adapted to permit the required motion of said motor are provided for energizing the same. 7

Thus it will be seen that the mot-or can be made to rotate the brushes 25 and 31 and that said brushes are at the same time swingable around the center line of shaft 13, the brushes being resiliently pressed against the side of the car by the reactions of said springs 47.

In order that the primary framework 15 may be withdrawn from the car into a position permitting free movement of the car without washing, there is provided a chain 53 fastened to said primary framework 15 and passing through a notch 55 associated with a part 57 on the framework 11. A'hand grip 59 permits the manipulation of this chain through said notch 55. Inasmuch as the chain may behooked in at any relative position with respect to the notch, it provides a means for setting the brushes 25, 31 in any one of their angular positions with respect to the car 1.

Another secondary framework 61 is swingably supported on said primary framework 15, for swingably mounting a window brush 63. The window brush 63 is thus adapted to wash the usually depressedwindows of the car 1. The frame 61 is arranged as follows:

. Lower and upper brackets 65 and 67respectively are rigidly fastened to the supporting shaft 13 and swing therewith. The upper bracket is detailed more particularly in Figs.

6 and 7. It carries a thrust bearing 69 (Fig. 6) for rotatably supporting a swing shaft 71, the latter carrying a sprocket 73 at the upper end 'thereof for meshing with said chain 29 leading from the sprocket 27 on the main brush shaft 21. Thus the chain 29 transmits rotary motion from the brush shaft 21 to the swing shaft 71.

The swing shaft 71 carries said secondary frame-work 61, which, it will be seen, should be adjustable vertically in order to adapt the window brush 63 to the various window heights on the various types of rolling stock to which it may be applied. In order to accomplish this, there is provided a lower swing shaft bracket 74 which is detailed more particularly in Figs. 4 and 5. This bracket 74 rotatably supports a hand wheel 75 the latter being connected for rotation with a pinion 77. The pinion meshes with a rack 79 fastened to a movable sleeve 81. The sleeve 81 1s shdable vertically in the bracket 74. It

is also slidably mounted over the swing shaft 71.

The sleeve 81 carries a thrust bearing 83 for supporting the member 74. The sleeve 81 is grooved as shown at numeral 85, for engagement with claws 87 fastened to the member 7 4. Thus the member 74 is relatively rotatable with respect to the sleeve 81 but is adapted to be adjusted in elevation thereby upon manipulation of the hand wheel 75. The bracket 74 is split so that the sleeve may be clamped by screwing up on a cap screw 88, that is, after a predetermined adjustment has been made.

The secondary framework 61 includes said member 74 and upper member 89 corresponding thereto for aiding and supporting said secondary and swingable frame 61. Asso- "ciated with the member 89 is a sprocket 91 which is splined to the swing shaft 71 for rotation therewith and slidable motion therealong. A chain 93 meshes with this sprocket 91. The chain 93 reaches outwardly to a second sprocket 95 located on'the shaft 97 of said brush 63. The shaft 97 of the brush 63 is located with suitable upper and lower hearings on said secondary frame 61. A chain 99 operating in conjunction with an over-centering lever-101. is adapted to control the positioning of said secondary framework 61 and aspring 103 reacts from bracket 49 to hold the brush 63 resiliently against the window surface of the car 1. The operation of the mechanism is as follows: 0 7

Assuming that the car 1 has been or is being run into position between the framework 11. the motor 43 is turned on. It drives the main brushes 25 and 31 on the main brush shaft 21 by way of the bevel gear train 37, 33. The main brush shaft 21 in turn drives the swing shaft 71. The swingshaft 71 has a fixed relationship with respect tothe brush shaft 21 and the shaft 13. The i'eason for this is that all of the shafts 13, 71 and 21 form part of a rigid structure providing the same angular movement 0f shafts 13, 71 and 21. i The shaft 71 being driven from shaft 21 by aid chain 29 in turn drives the secondary brus shaft 97 by way of the chain 93. This I chains'53 and 99 are fed out so that the normal reactions .of the springs 47 and 103 cause the brushes to be resiliently pressed against the sides and windows of the car 1.

In order to effect the proper adjustment of the window brush 63, and: this should be effected before the brushes are in operation) the screw 88 is loosened-and by means of the hand wheel 75,,the proper elevation is obtained. The screw 88 is then re-tightened.

One of the features of the present invention lies in the co-operation of the scrubbing action of said brushes and the cleaning action of certain high-pressure spraying devices. These devices are also shown in the drawings and comprise at the left (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) a vertically arranged set of spray nozzles, 105 supplied" from a pipe 107, preferably with a dirt removing solution, such as a soap solution. These nozzles may be directed at varying angles because they are rotatably mounted on the framework 11 and connect with their main supply pipe 109 by means of flex- .ible coupling 111. Thus, as the car 1 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, the surface of the car is sprayed at high pressure with dirt-removing solution before the brushes are reached.

Then the brushes are reached and it is desirable at this stage, to add more water so that the brushes effect a thorough churning action with the cleaning solution. In order to accomplish this, there is provided a set of nozzles 112 for directing water substantially between the sets of brushes, the water being sent in such a spray that some of it is proiected into-the .bristles of each set. These nozzles 112 are fed from a supply pipe 113.

This pipe 113 also connects with a rotatable .and windows thus coated, a given area. runs through the brushes which are ke t Wet with the supplementary sprayand fina ly the said given surface runs through the rinsing water projected from the nozzles 115. After the car has been cleaned, all, of the brushes maybe retracted by drawing in the chains 99 and 53. Or, either of said chains may be withdrawn so that either set of brushes 25, 31 or 63 may be made to operate alone. It will be remembered that there are sets-of brushes of the type herein described on each side ofthe car.

Any suitable pumping system may be used for supplying the dirt-removing liquid and/or rinse water to the pipes 109 and/or 113. 7

Another improved feature of this invention comprises the manner in which the brushes are mounted, this feature being illustrated in Fig. 3 in respect to brush 25. A polygonal or prismatical supportinginember 131 is fastened to the brush shaft 21. This neednot be removed in order to accomplish brush replacements. The supporting member is shown as being hexagonal in the present enibodiment. Bolted to the faces of the member 131 are brush segments or bristle holders 133 to which segments 133 brush elements or bristles 135- are fastened, the elements 135 forming, when assembled, a circularbrush form. Thus, when it isdesired to replace brushes it is unnecessary to disassemble the whole machine. It is only necessary to unbolt the elements 133 and replace them.

'lVe have found with the above described machine that a relatively slow and smooth car movement-is desirable. This is readily obtainable in steam motivated equipment and certain classes of electrical equipment. 011 higher speed electrical equipment the controller may be set on and off at the first notch in order to maintain a low speed.. p

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several. objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results at tained. I V v As many changes could be-made in carrying outthe above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim: i A

1.- A car washer comprisin a stationary frame, a movable primary rame pivoted thereon, said primary frame carrying rotatable brushes, motivating means located on said primary frame and movable therewith for driving said brushes,a secondary frame on said primary frame and movable with respect thereto, a rotatable brush on said secondary frame and driving means connecting the firstnamed brushes with the last-named brush.

2. In a car washer, a stationary frame, a swingable primary frame movable on a shaft in said stationary frame, a brush shaft in the primary frame, means located on the primaryframe for driving said brush shaft, a swing shaft movable at a fixed distance from the. brush shaft, driving ,means between said brush shaft and said swing shaft, a secondary frame rotatable on the swing shaft,a brush shaft in said secondary frame and swin able therewith, said last-named brush sha remaining at a fixed distance from'the swing shaft and driving means between the swing swingable primary frame movable on ashaft in said stationary frame, a brush shaft in the primary frame, means located on the primary frame for driving said brush shaft, a swing shaft movable at a fixed 'distance from the brush shaft and supported fixedly from said first rained shaft, driving means between said brush shaft and said swing shaft, a secondary therewith, said last-named brush shaft remaining at a fixed distance from theswing swing shaft, driving means connectin primary brush carrying tion of the second swingable frame on the swing shaft.

5. In a car washer, a swingable frame, ro-

' tatable brushes thereon for engaging surfaces to be cleaned, means on the frame for driving said brushes, a brush shaft for the brushes, said brush shaft swinging with the frame, a swing shaft also swinging with the frame, said swing shaft supporting a second swingable frame, a shaft carrying a brush in said second swingable frame for engaging another surface to be cleaned, means for adjusting the elevation of the second swingable frame on the swing shaft and driving means joining the first-named brushshaft with the swing shaft and driving means connecting said swing shaft with said second-named v brush shaft.

6. In a car washer, a swingable frame, rotatable brushes thereon for engaging surfaces to be cleaned, means on the frame for driving said brushes, a brush shaft for the brushes, said brush shaft swinging, with the frame, a swing shaft also swinging with the frame, said swing shaft supporting a second swingable frame, a shaft carrying a brush in said second swingable frame adapted to engage another surface to be cleaned, means for adjusting theelevation of the second swingable frame on the swing shaft and driving means joining the first-named brush shaft with thg sa1 swing shaft with said second-named rush shaft and resilient means for holding said frames so that their respective brushes engage said 'respective surfaces resiliently.

7. In a car washer, a stationary frame, a primary brush-carrying frame swingablebn a shaft, a secondary frame swingable on another shaft, said other shaft swin ing about the first-named shaft with sai primary frame, said secondary frame also carrying at least one brush, and resilient means tending to rotate saidframes in a predetermined di rection. 1 e a 8. Inca car washer, a stationary frame, a frame swingable on a shaft therein, a secon ary frame swingable around another shaft,'said other shaft swinging about the first-named shaft with the tending to rotate said frames in a predetermined direction and means for independently controlling the angular positions of said respective frames.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification this 16th day of November, 1929.

HENRY CORDELL. JOHN ROBERT BLAC-IiI-IALL. 

